Random Thoughts – 2/16/07

First, a quick baby note – I’ve figured out how to post pics to WordPress (yes, it’s extremely easy – I was making it way more difficult than necessary). So, that means that I will be updating “old” pics that were lost in the migration, as well as posting some new pics now that he’s home and settled.

Secondly, a quick site note – I’m going to be going through and cleaning up formatting on the old posts, applying “categories,” etc. I may also remove some old posts that are no longer relevant (like stuff relating to site updates, Blogger now that I’m using WordPress, etc.).

And finally, here they are, about a week and half’s worth of Random Thoughts… (I’ve been building this post for a while.)

• Desiring God blog recaps the recent DG Pastor’s Conference
• Pastor John Samson reflects on exactly why eating a piece of fruit caused all the suffering in the world
• Charles Biggs summarizes Calvin’s interpretation of Scripture
• Tim Challies is writing a book on discernment, and gives us a very good nutshell definition of this critical skill
• Strange BaptistFire shares some thoughts from Ernest Reisinger on the doctrine of limited atonement
• Expository Thoughts offers some ideas for pastors to evaluate their sermons
• Think About These Things shares Puritan Thomas Boston’s words on the rejoicing of the saints at God’s final judgment
• Justin Taylor points us to some links where we can all enjoy seminary-level classes for free
• Reformation Theology gives some pointers on how to know if we are saved
• Tim Challies reviews Wayne Grudem’s newest, Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism?
• The Philadelphia Inquirer didn’t like Tony Dungy’s comment about his faith, so Melinda at Stand to Reason defends the coach’s comments
• D. J. Phillips is blogging through his (very powerful) testimony in a multi-part post at Pyromaniacs: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
• Carl Trueman vents his frustrations about preaching to postmoderns
• Strange BaptistFire asks four questions that have not received the attention that they deserve in today’s Church, from Mark Dever’s 9 Marks of a Healthy Church
• Timmy Brister reflects on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, from a Christian viewpoint
• Tim Challies really wants this Lego set, and I do too…
• Speaking of gift ideas for me…
• Unashamed Workman is running an excellent series about how various preachers prepare to teach
• John Piper discusses how the “Prosperity Gospel” is not only wrong, but is deceitful and deadly
• Erik Raymond thinks a lot of American evangelicalism is like lite beer
• Pulpit Magazine stresses the importance of prayer with an essay from J. C. Ryle
• John Piper pays tribute to the late Dr. Bruce Metzger, who died Tuesday
• Frank Turk reminds us that the Bible is actually pretty easy to “get” when we let it…
• Erik Raymond gives a good definition of reformed dispensationalism
• Al Mohler reports out that the secular world is finally figuring out that self-esteem is dangerous

‘Til next time…